SIR Ben Ainslie’s Land Rover BAR team finished third in the second round of America’s Cup qualifying events in Gothenburg today.

Ainslie and co led after the first event off Portsmouth last month, but are now down to second overall behind Emirates Team New Zealand.

New Zealand won the Gothenburg event with 54 points, with Oracle Team USA on 48 and Ainslie’s crew a further two points back.

New Zealand now have 72 points overall, seven more than Land Rover BAR ahead of the third event of 2015 in Burmuda in October.

BAR were third and fourth in today’s two races, and Ainslie said: “In both races the start was critical, and in both races we weren't great.

“We started at the bottom end of line. It was an all or nothing start and it didn't come off; it put us on the back foot.

“We were coming back from a difficult position in both races.

“We wanted to be higher up the podium, but that is the nature of racing, dealing with the conditions and trying to get it right on the day.

“These are difficult boats to sail, and in some ways it's harder today than when we are flying around, balancing the boats on the foils.

“These are all fantastic sailors in all the teams, and the standard is getting better and better as we move forward."